The wait is over for a three-time standard elevation.
The New England Patriots officially promoted outside linebacker Ochaun Mathis to the 53-man roster on Tuesday, while also signing wide receiver Braylon Sanders to the practice squad to fill the vacated spot.
Mathis, 25, had reverted to the practice squad for the final time after being called up for matchups against the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets. He saw 40 snaps on special teams in October while also logging one tackle through a handful of snaps off the defensive edges. Prior arriving in Foxborough, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound transfer from Texas Christian to Nebraska entered the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. Mathis played in eight games as a rookie and cleared waivers in August.
Sanders, 25, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dolphins in 2022. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Mississippi product spent his initial two seasons on the practice squad across the AFC East. Sanders served as a standard elevation for three games as a rookie, totaling 34 offensive snaps as well as a pair of receptions for 17 yards. The wideout was waived from Miami’s injured reserve with an injury settlement as the calendar turned to September.
The Patriots carried an opening on the active roster after trading veteran linebacker Joshua Uche in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 class.
Head coach Jerod Mayo’s side visits the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Kickoff at Nissan Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.
